The is that unspoiled body of freshwater that lies on the north shore of and . In the shadows of the , the oldest moun- tain range in North America, the North Channel is bordered by Killarney on the east, to the south, and by the town of in the west. Beginning in Killarney, the turquoise blue waters of this port are a huge change from the darker waters familiar to the rest of the area. Killarney is one of the oldest villages in dating as far back as 1615 when Champlain and Brule first explored these waters. Once a vibrant fishing vil- lage, today the economy is driven almost entirely by tourism, meaning that the townfolk are welcoming and accommo- dating to all boaters: sailors, cruisers and trailer boaters. The entire town is less than a two block walk from anywhere on the docks with many unique restaurants (including a fish and chip truck right down on the water’s edge) and stores to visit and re-provision at. The historic Sportsman’s Inn was exten- sively renovated a few years back, and in the past few years Killarney Mountain Lodge has upgone significant upgrades including a new marina. Both are very welcoming to boat- THE ers. Killarney is also home to the spectacular Killarney Provincial Park – 140 square miles of preserved Canadian Shield wilderness. North Channel Heading west, the first popular anchorage is Covered Portage where the This world-famous freshwater cruising playground profile of an Indian’s Head can be seen on the rock face as you enter. Moving offers the best of both worlds: secluded anchorages down the Landsdowne Channel you’ll pass by Snug Harbour, MacGregor Bay, the entrance to Baie Fine and the famous “Pool”, and Heywood Island and full-service ports. – all of which have countless anchorages to explore. To the north shore lies

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R12 Edit_18.indd 130 2017-12-28 12:41 PM the magnificent Dreamer’s Rock – where the native peoples use to send and a sand beach. Gore Bay hosts a Splake derby in May, and a very popular their teenage children for a “right of passage” fasting to discover what their salmon derby every summer. calling was. Further west, the village of Meldrum Bay is a Canadian Customs report- Keep your charts handy – and up to date – as water levels have changed ing station, and offers a sheltered harbour and anchorage if required, and and bouys repositioned. Don’t trust the GPS coordinates from previous trips a full service marina. as the shoals and rocks are very unforgiving. It’s best to moor in known Back just west of Little Current, the more sheltered route takes you north waters and gunkhole by dinghy and the old trusty “lead line” to find a way through the Waubuno Channel, passing north of the anchorages at Bedford into that perfect spot. You’ll often see boats “spidered-in” to some unbeliev- Harbour and south of several beautiful anchorages along the north shore ably gorgeous places with a hook down and two or three lines tied to shore before coming across the most popular anchorage group: The Benjamins. to ensure the boat doesn’t move. These very unique smooth rock islands offer many anchoring options and Just west, under the single-lane swing bridge, the town of Little Current the swimming is absolutely fantastic. The night stargazing from here is phe- is a vibrant community that embraces transient boaters. The town docks, nomenal as there is little light pollution, so bring your telescope. together with the three local marinas, boast a total of over 250 slips for both Proceeding west through the McBean Channel, you’ll pass by some seasonal and transient boaters. The downtown core is anchored by Canada’s smaller and more secluded anchorages before passing through the Little oldest chart dealer and a terrific historic pub plus a host of other unique Detroit cut enroute to the town of Spanish. Spanish has a great new shops and services. The local grocery stores are a short walk away up the hill municipal marina and recreation facility and the view from the gazebo out past the LCBO and if you ask they’ll give you and your groceries a ride right over the marshlands is simply spectacular. (Sunset photos!) Town is a short back to your boat. The August long weekend every year is a busy one with walk and features a grocery store, LCBO, bait and tackle shop and a farmers Haweater Weekend and the largest Native Pow-Wow in North America hap- market on Saturdays in the summer. Further up the , two mari- pening in Wikwemikong. Tune into the “Cruisers Net” on VHF 71 every morn- nas offer transient dockage and some repairs. Gas up here because there’s ing for up to date information and reports from the various anchorages. nothing available until Blind River. Heading west, you can choose from two routes. To the south, the water Heading west down the Whalesback Channel, you’ll want to visit Coursol is more exposed but worth the trip to the community of Kagawong. Dock Bay, Otter Island, Moiles Harbour, Beardrop Harbour, and John Harbour at the marina and take a short walk to Bridal Veil Falls where you can walk anchorages, each with their own history and unique geography. Cell phone under the falls and see “the back side of water”. coverage is dependent on which carrier you are with. Blueberry picking Farther west through the Clapperton Channel, the community of Gore is recommended in season. Rounding Long Point, you may encounter a Bay offers great protection in the shadows of tree-covered high bluffs, a freighter enroute to the village of Spragge which has a vibrant yacht club. full service marina, excellent re-provisioning, a neat museum in the old jail, Crossing some open water north of the anchorage at Turnbull Island –

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R12 Edit_18.indd 131 2017-12-28 12:41 PM ALGOMA COUNTRY - where you can easily spend a full day exploring by dinghy, www.algomacountry.com fishing or swimming in the shallow warm waters – the town of Blind River is your next port of call. The marina BRUCES MINES - www.brucemines.ca is well protected behind a breakwall and is easily BLIND RIVER - www.blindriver.ca identified by the large wind turbine. It’s a short walk to restaurants and the shops and motels along the Trans- DESBARATS - www..ca Canada Highway. GORE BAY - www.gorebay.ca At the western end of the North Channel proper, is the town of Thessalon, with a deep water marina owned by the - www.hiltonbeach.com town. No repair or service is available. You can borrow courtesy KAGAWONG - bicycles to take you the short distance into town where restaurants, a www.manitoulin-island.com/communities/kagawong.html bakery, grocery store, banks, a pharmacy and hospital are all available. But continue your journey onto Hilton Beach as it is another must visit LITTLE CURRENT - www.portoflittlecurrent.com town, on the north east shore of beautiful St Joseph’s Island. The marina is MANITOULIN ISLAND – www.manitoulintourism.com nestled behind a breakwall and serves as a fitting backdrop to several great restaurants and accommodations if you want to get off the boat for a night. MANITOWANING - Beyond here, up the St. Joseph Channel is Richard’s Landing with updated www.manitoulin-island.com/manitowaning/index.html facilities including a restaurant and a newly rebuilt ‘Ray of Light’ lighthouse, NORTH CHANNEL - www.thenorthchannel.ca and Sault Ste. Marie with full-service marina, services and a city bustling with entertainment, restaurants and shopping. This large city plays host to a Rotary ST. JOSEPH ISLAND - www.stjosephtownship.com Dragon Boat festival, the Summer Festival, the Canadian Bushplane Heritage SAULT STE. MARIE - www.saultstemarie.ca Centre, and is the depot for the famous Agawa Canyon Train Tour that runs year round. SPANISH - www.townofspanish.com The North Channel is a much talked about highlight of “loopers” coming SPRAGGE - www.townshipofthenorthshore.ca from all over North America on the Great Circle. Discover your own backyard, explore this gem in your own boat and we know that you’ll be back again and THESSALON - www.algomacountry.com/cities-towns/thessalon again like so many other families who have generations of history in these waters. ~ Brad Roberts

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R12 Edit_18.indd 132 2017-12-28 12:41 PM REGION 12 The North Channel

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R12 Edit_18.indd 133 2017-12-28 12:41 PM Abbreviations The North Channel FUEL FOOD DOCKAGE G - Gas R - Restaurant L - Liquor Store M - Mobile D - Diesel S - Snack Bar G - Grocery D - Dryland P - Propane V - Variety I - Ice B - Beer Store W - Water e Boating Ontario Dealer CLEAN MARINE SALES REPAIRS RENTALS TRANSIENT FUEL LAUNCH RAMP FOOD DRAFT DOCKAGE PUMPOUT SHORE POWER LIFT BY TONS

DESBARATS 6 Kensington Point Marina P.O. Box 39, 400 Kensington Road. Desbarats P0R 1E0 David Fararr 705-782-6251 45 19.30 83 56.32 www.kensingtonpointmarina.com [email protected] h h G h S 8 20 3 GORE BAY 11 Gore Bay Marina 15 Water Street, P.O. Box 590 Gore Bay P0P 1H0 Annette Clarke 705-282-2906 45 55.28 82 27.51 www.gorebay.ca [email protected] h h h GD h RGSV 6 169 h h 35 HILTON BEACH 7 Hilton Beach Marina Box 25, 3100 Bowker Street Hilton Beach P0R 1G0 Peggy Cramp 705-246-2291 46 15.6 83 53.3 www.hiltonbeach.com [email protected] GD h RBGLSV 10 175 h h KAGAWONG 26 Kagawong Municipal Marina 188 Main Street Kagawong P0P 1J0 Bruce Mercer 705-282-8800 45 54.37 82 15.34 www.billingstwp.ca/marinaindex [email protected] h G h RBGLSV 15 50 h h 22 Berry Boats 49 Hwy. 540, R.R. #1 Kagawong P0P 1J0 Oliver Newlands 705-282-2604 www.berryboats.com [email protected] h RGSV D KILLARNEY 17 Roque’s Marina 65 Channel Street Killarney P0M 2A0 Pat Roque 705-287-9900 [email protected] h h GRSV 10 38 h 16 25 Sportsman’s Inn Resort & Marina 37 Channel Street Killarney P0M 2A0 Kelly McAree 705-287-9990 45 58.15 81 30.58 www.sportsmansinn.ca [email protected] h GD h RGSV 8 140 h h 1 Killarney Mountain Lodge 3 Commissioner Street Killarney P0M 2A0 Kelly McAree 705-287-2242 45.9695 81.5082 www.killarney.com [email protected] h GD RS 24 48 h h LITTLE CURRENT 16 Harbor Vue Marina Limited P.O. Box 626, 72 Ferguson’s Road Little Current P0P 1K0 Debbi Burnett 705-368-3212 45 58.40 81 54.12 www.harborvue.on.ca [email protected] h h G h R 10 60 h h 40

134­­ For more detailed marina information, please visit www.boatingontario.ca

R12 List.indd 134 2017-12-28 2:01 PM Weekly Rental Cabins

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R12 List.indd 135 sportsman 2016.indd 1 2017-12-28 2:07 PM 2017-01-09 12:33 PM Abbreviations The North Channel FUEL FOOD DOCKAGE G - Gas R - Restaurant L - Liquor Store M - Mobile D - Diesel S - Snack Bar G - Grocery D - Dryland P - Propane V - Variety I - Ice B - Beer Store W - Water e Boating Ontario Dealer CLEAN MARINE SALES REPAIRS RENTALS TRANSIENT FUEL LAUNCH RAMP FOOD DRAFT DOCKAGE PUMPOUT SHORE POWER LIFT BY TONS

14 Spider Bay Marina & Port of Little Current P.O. Box 608, 14 Water Street East Little Current P0P 1K0 Reid Taylor 705-368-3148 45 59.10 81 55.56 www.townofnemi.on.ca [email protected] h h GDP h GSRVLB 6 130 h h LITTLE CURRENT 15 Boyle Marine Box 487 Little Current P0P 1K0 Pat Boyle 705-368-2239 45 59.06 81 55.71 www.boylemarine.com [email protected] h h RBGLSV 6 80 h 30 MANITOWANING 19 Bay Street Marina 25B Spragge Street, Box 238 Manitowaning P0P 1N0 Will Beck 705-859-3196 45 44.34 81 48.17 www..ca [email protected] GD h RGSV 20 34 h h SAULT STE. MARIE 5 Roberta Bondar Transient Marina 99 Foster Drive Sault Ste. Marie P6A 5X6 Rick Borean 705-759-5310 46 30.5 84 20.2 www.saultstemarie.ca [email protected] h h GD RGLSV 10 38 h h SPANISH 2 Almenara en el Rio Inc. 57 Spanish Street, Box 118 Spanish P0P 2A0 Jean Kirkland 705-844-2442 46 11.192 82 20.134 www.almenaraenelrio.com [email protected] h h h G h RBGLSV 6 60 h h 45 12 Spanish Municipal Marina P.O. Box 70, 8 Trunk Road Spanish P0P 2A0 Brent St. Denis 705-844-1077 46 11.044 82 21.287 www.townofspanish.com [email protected] h GD h GSRVLB 119 h h 40 THESSALON 8 Thessalon Municipal Marina P.O. Box 220, 56 Algoma Street East Thessalon P0R 1L0 Marina Manager 705-842-5188 46 15.9 83 33.30 www.townthessalon.ca [email protected] h GDP h RBGLSV 7 60 h h WHITEFISH 18 Penage Bay Marina 1886 Penage Lake Road Whitefish P0M 3E0 Guy Richard 705-866-2427 [email protected] h GDP h GV 5 240 9 27 Legend Boats 4795 Regional Road 55 Whitefish P0M 3E0 Marc Duhamel 705-866-2821 www.legendboats.com [email protected] h h D

136­­ For more detailed marina information, please visit www.boatingontario.ca

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R12 List.indd 137 2017-12-28 2:07 PM